University Of Eldoret Rugby, Alex Mwange has been elected as the new skipper to replace outgoing Dennis Wechuli who is one of five players who have since left the Varsity side after completing their studies.
Crispaus Onkoba Other than Wechuli, George Kasawa, scrum half Kevin Ogao, James Nyaa, Patson Ogutu and flyhalf Nick Mapepe Mawira will not be part of the team this season.
Crispaus Onkoba who in the off-season turns out for Kisii RFC has been named the assistant captain while Kevin Otieno comes in as the Team Manager.
UoE Trojans, buoyed by a string of impressive performance in the past two seasons, hope to have a smooth sailing this year unlike in the 2014/2015 season when the students missed out to compete in the play-offs after the university was closed indefinitely due to students’ unrest.
That notwithstanding, University Of Eldoret Rugby is the most prominent rugby team in the Rift, having edged out former Kenya Cup debutants, Eldoret RFC, and the gritty Moi University ‘Arsonists’ in all encounters to lead the log last season.
Performed so well It’s quite impressive to note that the team has performed so well in the league without assistance of a coach, except for a short stint by former Mwamba Coach Ben Amboko and substantial support from the university’s administration.
“It’s been pure determination, hard work and commitment from the players” notes the new team captain Alex Mwange.
“Some of our key players have completed studies and we will be without their services but that won’t deter us from success since we have quite a pool of players who are up to the task to fill the voids left,” he added.
The team will contest Rift Valley Pool ‘A’ that also has Varsity sides KPA Eldoret, Moi University as well as Eldoret RFC, Kitale RFC and Kapsabet RFC.